Sounds like both - I was instantly carried at least 100 feet (maybe more like yards) down the beach, all while underwater and banging around.
And the weird thing is, the lifeguard (there was one there) saw me go under, did nothing, and when I tremblingly tottered back to the beach he yelled at me for not coming out of the water when he shouted at me to come in. I never heard or saw him, as I was controlled by the water and plus my head was underwater the whole time. He was a real ***hole. Never even asked how I was or anything. I was extremely shaken.
Those Atlantic rip currents and waves can really be dangerous. I’ve been pretty shaken up a few times too. When you get caught up in the breaking waves and rolled and pounded a few times, it can be very disorienting. You don’t know which way is up, or get knocked over repeatedly and ingest more water on the way. I have a lot of respect for (most) Atlantic beach lifeguards. They have a tough job and really need to be on their toes. Most of them are, fortunately.
That’s pretty freaky, it does sound like a current. My only other drowning experience was when I was four. I stepped off into the deep with no swimming ability. I don’t remember anything from that age nevermind whether I thrashed or not. My cousins pulled me out. All my posts here are their fault.